NBCSN Driving Formula One Viewership Gains

Net Scores 93% Advance, On Pace To Be Cable's Best with Circuit10/16/2014 3:30 PM Eastern

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Coming into the home stretch of the 2014 Formula One season, NBCSN is on pace to deliver the top Nielsens on cable for the circuit.

Through 11 races, NBCSN has averaged 377,000 watchers, up 93% from last year's average audience of 195,000, according to Nielsen data. Network officials said the service is moving toward the best-ever F1 season for a cable network since 2002. NBCSN is also up 39% from the 271,000 watchers when measured against the circuit's final season on Speed, which was converted into Fox Sports 1 in August 2013.

Combined, NBCSN and CNBC (three races) have 348,000 viewers through 14 races, an 86% improvement from 187,000 last year and 29% above Speed's 271,000 in 2012.

All told, NBC Sports Group’s overall F1 coverage -- NBC/NBCSN/CNBC -- has averaged 452,000 viewers through 16 races, up 49% from 2013's 304,000. Viewership was revved by NBC’s presentation of the Canadian Grand Prix on June 8) that averaged 1.46 million viewers to rank as the most-watched F1 race since the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix, drew 1.49 million on Fox. The event stands as the most-watched race for NBC Sports Group since it acquired exclusive Formula One rights prior to the 2013 season.

Next up on the circuit: NBC will present live comprehensive coverage of the F1 United States Grand Prix on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 2 p.m. (ET). NBC Sports Group’s F1 broadcast team ofLeigh Diffey (play-by-play),David Hobbs (analyst),Steve Matchett (analyst), andWill Buxton (pit reporter), will be on-site at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, to provide commentary.